“Um,” Candace turned to Oliver. “Was that a few weeks ago? It’s hard to keep track, we’re both so busy. Retirement, what’s that?”
They both laughed despite the stony faces.
“So that means the two of you are hanging out a lot?” Logan said.
It was starting to feel like a tag-team inquisition, but both Oliver and Candace seemed to be above it.
“When we can,” Oliver said. “But we live on different coasts and, like Candace said, we both have full plates.”
“Interesting,” Drew said as the crossed his arms and leveled his stare at Candace. “And how long are you staying, Candace?”
Oof, the words were neutral but his tone was lethal. The poor woman.
“I’m leaving tomorrow morning, early.”
“I’m assuming that you’re staying in one of our properties,” Drew said.
“Not at all,” Oliver interjected. “We have plenty of room at the house; she’s staying with me.”
The silence was painful.
I was about to say something,anything, to break the tension but right as I opened my mouth I felt someone crash into my back, sending me reeling forward a few steps.
“I am so sorry,” a sweaty guy said, clutching his now half full drink out in front of him. “Did I get you?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the damp burgundy spot running down my hip. “A little.”
“Ah shit. Does red wine stain?” The sweaty guy grimaced.
Candace was already striding towards me. “Not if I have anything to say about it. Come on, let’s take care of that mess.”
She took my arm and gently led me away.
“Yikes,” she said softly.
I wasn’t sure if she was talking about the stain or the drama we’d just left.
“Sorry,” I answered equally vaguely, because we didn’t know each other well enough to really get into what we were thinking.
We walked into the bathroom that was big enough to belong in a hotel and Candace immediately got to work, bending over at the waist to examine the stain.
“Don’t worry—you’re in good hands. No one can get rid of a stain like a former surgeon,” she said confidently.
“Oh wow,” I breathed. “That’s what you used to do?”
She unwound the bath tissue and started wetting it down in the sink. “Former surgical oncologist.”
“No way,” I replied. “That’s incredible.”
“Thank you. I retired from the surgical suite a year ago but I’m not ready to just give up, so I’m now a medical consultant. It’s a very fulfilling way to continue my mission.”
She started dabbing at the stain and I searched for a way to bridge what had just gone down with the guys.
“I’m sorry you had to put up with Drew being so …”
“Justifiably suspicious?” Candace filled in, and I laughed at her dead-on take.
“That’s generous of you to call it justified,” I said.
